You walk into Dubai Mall expecting a latte and maybe some light retail therapy. Suddenly you’re scanning QR codes, picking dance tracks, and stepping into rooms that glow, reflect, and quadruple you.
Welcome to House of Hype, where your mall visit takes a sharp left into a digital playground.
Read MoreIf you’ve survived an Arab Eid gathering, then you already know: refusing sweets is not an option, it’s just quietly ignored. Somewhere between your second round of knafeh and your aunt insisting you’re “looking too thin,”…you realize the only way out is through… another bite.
So in prep for Eid Al Fitr this weekend, I did what any sweet-seeker would do: I wandered, I taste-tested (you’re welcome), and noted 10 spots in Dubai that’ll make your glucose levels spike and your soul do a little dabke. So if you’re stocking up to impress the family and knock everyone’s Eid socks off, this guide’s got your back.
Bring stretchy pants. Maybe backup stretchy pants. Let’s go.
Read MoreThe 3 day Eid break is a great chance to unplug, and discover your own backyard. Make the most out of it by venturing outside the comfort of your couch and exploring many of the events and activities happening across the UAE.
Here’s a shortlist of some cool things to do this long weekend.
Read MoreDreaming of a quick getaway over the upcoming Eid break? There are a few destinations nearby, only a few hours away from the UAE, which offer everything from grand bazaars to sulfur baths to mountain hikes.
Here’s a shortlist of easy jaunts from the UAE to satisfy your wanderlust and make most of your 3 days off.
Read MoreTake a walk on the wild side at Dubai’s largest zipline park, Aventura. Located in Mushrif Park, Aventura is a brilliant way to explore Dubai’s wonderful native forests which have been designed with a challenging combination of swaying sky bridges and zip line pathways that cut through.
Read MoreDubai’s Expo 2020 is nothing short of extraordinary. Postponed due to the pandemic, the event has finally arrived, one year later, at a time when people need its message of hope most. “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future” is the official theme of the 6-month expo, with the sub-themes of sustainability, mobility and opportunity. For the FIRST time in expo history, each country has its own pavilion, and so we’re talking about 192 countries in 1 magnificent venue with every corner designed to keep you wildly entertained. How do you wander about the expo and make the most of your visit?
Here’s a detailed guide or better yet ‘my 2 fils’ on the best pavilions to visit, delicious bites to munch on, and things to keep a lookout for. Happy wandering!
Read MoreThe moment we’ve been eagerly waiting for has finally come! Dubai Expo 2020(21) will open its doors on October 1, 2021 and is scheduled to run until March 31, 2022. The event was postponed last year due to public health concerns during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but is now officially back on track with additional safety measures. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the Expo with the new safety protocols in place.
Read MoreAmid the hustle and bustle of the souks of old Dubai, scent makers mix and match their potions to create fragrances customized to their customers’ tastes. Wander with me to Yusuf Bhai, both the name of the shop and Dubai’s artisanal perfumer, and watch the potion masters, Yusuf and his son Bilal, combine ingredients to create a bottle of your new scent.
Read MoreMany people put off their travel dreams until they find someone they can travel with. We make excuses and put off life-changing trips for ‘one day’ in the future. The honest truth is, a solo trip is probably one of the best investments in yourself that you can make. Sure. The idea of sitting alone in a buzzing restaurant for dinner while everyone’s socializing may sound terrifying. But it doesn’t have to be. Also, with the no. of blogs on the internet (because everyone’s a blogger) and the probability of you knowing someone who has already been to a destination, there’s far fewer unknowns. Here are the most common fears about traveling solo and how to tackle them.
Read MoreLiving in Dubai can be expensive, there’s no doubt about that. So I know how awesome it can be to find great discounts and bargains whether for shopping, dining, or anything really! That’s why I’ve searched high and low for the best Dubai deals. Find out how to get luxury for less at many of Dubai’s restaurants, spas, hotels, bars, movie theaters and more.
Read MoreDubai’s newest attraction, the Infinity des Lumières, is where you’ll experience the world’s greatest paintings in an incredibly immersive way, without a canvas in sight. It’s a space that has taken on the works of Vincent Van Gogh, letting visitors step straight into ‘Starry Night’. It brings his and other famous works to life from floor to ceiling with elements of color, sound and light using projectors, animations and more. Here’s a guide to visiting.
Read MoreLooking for awesome, fun things to do in Dubai this weekend? Well, whether it’s putting on your skates and channeling your inner Britney or learning to padel, here are some ideas to add to your list of things to do. Click to find out where you can wander off to!
Read MoreIf you’ve ever read ‘Charlie & the Chocolate Factory’ by Roald Dahl or watched the movie Willy Wonka, you’ve probably dreamed of setting foot inside a chocolate factory one day.
Well, Mirzam Chocolate Factory in Dubai’s Al Quoz is offering the golden tickets to visit their factory, showing you everything there is to see about chocolate making from bean to bar.
The venue is a one-stop shop for many things. It’s a café with a small batch bakery, a shop where you can buy all sorts of different flavored chocolate, and a factory where you can see every stage of the chocolate making process from roasting the cocoa beans into making the beautifully wrapped chocolate bars.
Read MoreCelebrating your birthday in Dubai? Well, while we may not be blowing out candles the way we used to before (secretly super glad that’s on pause with hopefully no return in sight), there are plenty of ways to have a great time with friends and family. Some which involve birthday freebies and offers that you can indulge in, especially tasty ones, from wonderful restaurants and attractions who want to spoil you on your big day!
Here’s a list of venues who I’ve contacted that reportedly offer birthday perks, with promised offers exclusive on the date and others valid within a certain time period.
Read MoreRumba at the Palm Jumeirah’s Vista Mare is a place that effortlessly transports you from Dubai to one of the most incredible destinations of all time, Cuba, set in the 50’s. It’s a mix of tropical paradise and charming nostalgia with photos of Havana’s colorful homes, salsa clubs, cigars, and vintage American cars.
The Theatre of Digital Art (TODA) is an incredible one-of-a-kind digital art space based in Souk Madinat Jumeirah. It focuses on the intersection of art and tech by showing visitors classical art in an immersive way. Most art in galleries is an object sitting in a frame or a thing, so here, they work with something that is intangible. TODA uses this incredible lighting and sound system and hanging projectors that are hidden carefully from the public eye, and it turns the walls and ceiling into digital animations based on famous artworks by artists like Vincent Van Gogh or Claude Monet, animated to a soundtrack. Find out more about their latest exhibition, Being Van Gogh.
There’s a new tall tower on the Palm Jumeirah block called The Palm Tower. At 240 m high and 52 storeys, it’s the tallest building on the island. Like the Burj Khalifa, it’s also a ‘vertical city’ albeit shorter, and is home to the Nakheel Mall at its base, followed by the St. Regis Hotel, the Palm Tower Residences, Starbucks café, yet-to-open Sushisamba restaurant, a Skypool, and the Level 52 observation deck which you can visit to see jaw-dropping views of the city.
Dubai’s got an endless list of coffee shops all over the city, as well as java-pouring cafés and restaurants. Even in the summertime, Dubai-ans continue to consume copious amounts of coffee to get their days rolling, perhaps switching to iced versions instead of hot. So I wanted to share the best spots to get your caffeine jolt and delicious bites, that are not the usual suspects - read Starbucks. Whether you’re after a place to catch up with friends or to just disconnect and read, these are some of the newer and fantastic spots worth visiting. Shout-out to Ishita for the awesome intel.
One of the few silver linings of 2020 and the pandemic was the fact that I was stranded abroad in New Zealand for 6 entire months. Based in Auckland, I had the incredible fortune of wandering about once lockdown was lifted and enjoying the many fabulous restaurants the city has in store. Entrusted with a sacred list of must-eat-at venues from trusted F&B connoisseur friend Martin and former wanderer Fergus, resident Kiwis, I was absolutely bedazzled with the culinary scene in Auckland and variety of options. Here are all my favorites.
One of many things I would suggest a tourist try when visiting the UAE or any Middle Eastern country for that matter, is za’atar. It’s something that’s generally not on their radar and is perhaps less famous than hummus or falafel, both of which have earned prominent roles on the world’s food stage despite the scary variants that have popped up such as dark chocolate mint dessert hummus which I’m happy to read described by journalist Kareem Shaheen ‘are equivalent of dousing a tender Kobe steak with ketchup.’
So what is za’atar? Read more to find out.
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